Proving out a new isopod genus

It can be very exciting to discover a standout isopod within an existing colony and many wonder if they have produced a new isopod species to call their own. Before we recommend shouting from the rooftops and putting forward your new find to be added to the record, you must know that not every new find is proof of a new scientific discovery.

It is true there are still so many types of isopod genus and species yet to be discovered, with new isopods being identified every year, it’s not surprising for hobbyists to be enthusiastic about a new colouration or pattern found on a wild or captive bred isopod.

In order to establish if you have a truly discovered a new genus or species of isopod, it is recommended that you isolate the isopod and put it through the ‘proving out’ method. This means breeding the isopod with the unique trait to establish if the trait is genetic or not.

The genetic makeup of isopods is still poorly understood and there ‘seems’ to be more intricacies within the genetics of isopods than the more understood dominant, co-dominant, recessive gene makeup that play a pivotal role in other hobbies like the reptile hobby. 

There are so many variations within a genus or species of isopod which means not every variation is genetic or proof of discovery of a new genus or species. The unique trait may simply be a deformity or an irregularity which is unique to that individual isopod only. Like humans, we all have different characteristics and appearances that are not genetically passed down to our offspring.

A new trait can still create a stir across the hobbyist keeper community. For example, in the ball python snake hobby, it is very common for ball python breeders to pay big money for wild or captive bred ball pythons which have an unusual pattern or colouration in the hope that they can reproduce the same pattern or colouration by ‘proving out’ the unique trait to the offspring therefore creating a new morph species.

It is important to bear in mind that some isopod species have been known to produce other species of isopod from established colonies. For example, the red edge isopod can produce red edge blonde isopods. Similarly, panda king isopods are known to produce different colourations. For example, a red panda king (with an red/orange and white colouration) can produce mandarin panda kinds (fully red/orange with no white colouration). Why? How? The simple answer is nobody really understands why since there are still too many gaps in our isopod genetic knowledge.

One thing we can highly recommend is to share your findings with other hobbyists in the community who can share their knowledge and experience in order to guide you on your potential discovery.

Here at Post Pods, we tend to keep an eye on our colonies and if different colourations or patters are noticed within an established colony, we remove those isopods with the unique trait and allow them to colonise independently to see if trait is passed down to the offspring.

Post Pods are presently isolating all our Ornatus High Yellow isopods which show more yellow colouration in comparison with the rest of the colony of isopods. Our goal is to isolate and ‘prove out’ the black colouration leaving higher yellow than black colouration or completely yellow colouration. Our friend, Mark Titterton had kindly provided us with new blood high yellow isopods to assist in our project.